Published: Jan 08, 2016, 03:46 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 08, 2016, 03:46 PM (IST)
The third Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy between Australia and West Indies was spoiled with the incessant rain due to which it ended in draw. Because of this, Australia, who dominated the entire series, couldn’t manage a whitewash.
Australian skipper Steve Smith said the West Indies didn’t opt to consider his plans of revitalizing the third Test, which eventually ended in a tepid draw. Smith said that he approached his counterpart Jason Holder with a proposal to declare their first innings at 0-0 so that the West Indies can reciprocate by declaring their second innings on the same score, thus setting Australia to chase 370-runs in 70 overs to play. But the offer was turned down and the game ended in a draw.
Australia were keen for a 3-0 but had to be content with the series win and lead of 2-0.
Smith was quoted in a report from AFP saying, “There was (an approach). Unfortunately they didn’t come to the party, I offered him (Holder) 370 runs in 70 overs, which I thought was pretty generous,” Smith told reporters. “It would take some good batting to get that on a day five SCG wicket but they weren’t up for the challenge unfortunately. They would have had to declare this morning, I would have declared nought for nought and then bowled lob-ups for seven or eight overs or whatever it was, 370 off 70. I offered but they weren’t willing to take it. We want to try and win every game we play and today was a perfect opportunity to set the game up for a good chase and for the fans who stayed out this afternoon.”
Smith said that he had cross-checked with the rules and regulations of such a move with the team coach Darren Lehmann. “Yeah, I spoke to Boof (Lehmann) who read through the rules and said you are allowed to do that kind of thing. That was on our cards today and unfortunately they didn’t come to the party. We can’t control the weather. It’s been a disappointing week here in Sydney. It would have been nice to have got a bit more play in, but we can’t control that. We did everything we could this week.”
Holder somehow inveterate the approach by Smith but said the team, wasn’t up for the Australian proposal.
Holder defended his move by saying, “He came to us and made an offer, I just went back to the team and we thought at this stage of our development it wasn’t the best thing for us.”
Spectators at SCG who missed out on most of the cricket during the third Test, were denied of an exciting finish due to the West Indian captain’s overtly defensive move.
